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Dwight Hunter doesn’t like the long bus rides that are a fact of life for the Caribou High School boys basketball team.
But he does like virtually everything else about his role with the program this winter, as an assistant to Vikings’ head coach Chris Casavant.
The 70-year-old Hunter, who worked at Caribou for more than four decades, primarily as athletic director but also with a stint as basketball coach during the early and mid-1960s, has returned to the sidelines this winter.
He is filling the void created shortly before the season began when Casavant’s younger brother and former assistant, Nick, left to embark upon a career with the Maine State Police.
“They called me two weeks before the season and asked me if I’d help them out, and I said yes, I’d do it for a year,” said Hunter, who retired from teaching in 1996 and as Caribou’s AD in 2002.
Hunter was named Maine’s Athletic Director of the Year in 1980, received the State Merit Award in 1993, was voted Teacher of the Year in the Caribou school system in 1995, received the Big East Service Award in 1996, and last spring received the Martin E. Ryan Award of Excellence from the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.
That award, named after current MIAAA executive director Martin E. Ryan of Kennebunk, honors athletic administrators who have practiced in their chosen field with distinction.
For Casavant, the chance to have an experienced people-person like Hunter at his side is a considerable asset in a variety of ways.
“It’s fun to have someone who has done as much as he has and knows as many people as he does next to you,” said Casavant. “You hear about stories from back in 1955, and he’ll say, ‘You know who I’m talking about’ and I’ll say ‘Dwight, I wasn’t even a twinkle in my parents’ eyes back in those times.’
“So it’s an enjoyable experience, and he’s a competitor. He hates to lose, and there’s nobody more loyal than Dwight, so it’s been fun so far.”
Casavant and Hunter have a relationship that long preceded this year’s coaching experience.
“I’ve known Dwight since I was a kid because he and my father [longtime County coach Bill Casavant] knew each other,” said Casavant. “I got my first teaching job at Caribou and he was the AD and I was the girls basketball coach so we kind of developed a relationship there.”
Perhaps the easiest part of the job for Hunter is working with kids – it’s something he has done virtually all of his life, including now when he’s off the court with his nine grandchildren.
“The fun part is watching the kids develop throughout the season,” he said. “When I was AD it was fun to watch a kid, whatever the sport, as a freshman and then watch him progress and become a decent athlete as a senior.
“These kids are great kids that we’ve got. I know it’s a cliche, but they are great kids and that’s one thing that enticed me. I know the kids because I’ve followed them, and that enticed me to come back for a year anyway.”
But while the Vikings are off to a solid 5-4 start this season, there is one down side to Hunter’s return to the sidelines.
“The buses are hard on you,” said Hunter, whose older brother Gene also is still active as a junior high basketball coach at Scarborough Middle School.
“That’s the hardest part. Chris is a great coach and a great teacher, and I enjoy being with him and being with the kids, but it’s the bus rides that when you’re 70 years old are a little tough on the butt.”
Spencer, Berry win Sanford titles
Travis Spencer of Belfast and Jacob Berry of Camden Hills of Rockport won individual championships over the weekend at the Redskin Invitational wrestling tournament hosted by Sanford High School.
Nineteen teams participated in the annual event, with out-of-state programs claiming the top three positions and four of the top five in the team competition.
Timberlane, N.H., edged Danbury, Conn., 196-186.5 for the title, followed by Concord, N.H. (182.5), Massabesic of Waterboro (136.5) and Lowell, Mass. (129). Camden Hills was sixth with 119.5 points, while Lisbon was next with 101.
Spencer won the 189-pound title, earning a 4-0 decision over Joe LaDuca of Danbury, Conn., in the title match.
Berry won his crown at 152 pounds by pinning Tyler Howe of Danbury in 4 minutes, 48 seconds.
Other top finishes by Eastern Maine wrestlers included second-place efforts by Cody Laite of Camden Hills at 140 pounds and Jerod Rideout of Foxcroft Academy (145); fourths from Murphy McGowan (125) and True Bragg (130) of Camden Hills; fifths from Ivan Bragg (119) and Oliver Bradeen (189) of Camden Hills and Jimmy Spencer (130) and Kote Aldus (152) of Belfast; and a sixth from Colby Johnson of Foxcroft (130).
Day to coach Portland baseball
Former Cape Elizabeth High School baseball coach Todd Day has been named the new baseball coach at Portland High School.
Day replaces Mike Rutherford, who coached the Bulldogs for the last 12 years, compiling a 192-58 record and leading his alma mater to four Western Maine Class A championships and one state title.
Last spring Portland went on an undefeated run to the Western A crown before Bangor rallied past the Bulldogs 4-3 in the state championship game.
Rutherford, who also has coached Andrews Post of Portland to the last two state American Legion championships, resigned his high school post in November.
Day compiled a 40-16 record with Cape Elizabeth during the last three years, leading the Capers to the 2004 Class B state title.
He also coached the Coastal Athletics team from South Portland and Cape Elizabeth to third place at last August’s state American Legion tournament.
Day already coaches boys junior varsity basketball at Portland.
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